Business licence shock

JON HOUZET

A LEGAL requirement for business licences shocked some business owners attending the Port Alfred Business Forum meeting at the Halyards Hotel last week.

Ndlambe municipality's director of community protection services, Nombulelo Booysen-Willy did a presentation on business licences, which will cost R905 across the board.

Some business owners questioned why small businesses were required to pay the same amount as large businesses like the Halyards Hotel.

They asked if small businesses could apply for a reduced price.

Booysen-Willy said it would not be possible in the current financial year, but may be something that would be looked into for next year.

"This comes as a shocker to some people, so I suggest you put your concerns in writing,” business forum president Rick Pryce told the audience.

A businessman from Kenton-on-Sea said he knew of 200 businesses in Ekuphumleni township and he doubted they even knew of the business licence requirement.

Whether they would comply was another matter, he said.

"A law that can't be enforced is a bad law,” another audience member said.

Booysen-Willy assured the audience that the municipality was focusing on township businesses "because they weren't complying”.

"In Kenton there are 96 businesses, and 81 have provisional licences,” she said.

"There are 100 you don't know about,” was the response from the floor.

Business owners agreed they did not object to paying, but that it should apply to all businesses, and be at a pro-rata rate according to the size of the business.